Bottle carrier



Nov. 20, 1951 R. H. cAsLER 2,575,654

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed sept. 1e, 194e Flgflmu INVEN'T'R Egger H. [2551er Patented Nov. 20, 1951 BOTTLE CARRIER Roger H. Casier, Oakville, Conn., assignor to Boy S. Sanford, Oakville, Conn.

Application september 1s, islssemmo. 691,197 s claims. (on. 229-52) This invention relates to a carton, and more particularly to a carrier for bottles or similar articles.

One of the objects of-the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive bottle carrier.

Another object is to provide a single piece blank for a carrier of the above type which may be readily assembled on conventional carton making or gluing machines.

A further object is to provide a carrier blank adapted to be folded and glued to form a carrier of the above type, so constituted as to require the application of adhesive on only one side of the blank. y

Still another object is to provide a carrier having a reinforced handle portion of relatively great strength.

A further object is to provide a carrier having a handle portion having reinforcing portions adhesively secured thereto, whereby the ladhesive is effective to increase the strengthof thehandle portion.

Yet another object is to provide a carrier blank having novel compartmentiwall forming members integral therewith for separating the bottles or other articles in order` to prevent engagement therebetween.

Another object is to provide a carrier blank having compartment wall forming members integral therewith and so disposed with respect to the rest of the carrier as to facilitate the insertion of bottles in the finished carrier.

Yet another object is to provide partition forming members integral with the compartment side walls so constituted as to strengthen and brace the side walls.

A still further object is to provide a carrier having article receiving compartments, wherein the partitions defining the compartments serve to yieldingly separate the articles.

A further object is to provide a carrier of -paper board or similar material having article receiving compartments, so constituted that the partitions between the compartments are formed with three layers of said material separating the articles in adjacent compartments in order to minimize breakage or damage of the articles.

Still another object is to provide a carrier which may be assembled, shipped at, and readily opened into article receiving position by the user. Another object is to provide a blank for a carrier of the above type, so constituted as to permit cooperating parts thereof to be folded and adhesively or otherwise secured to each other during continuous movement of the blankl through a single machine of conventional type.

A still further object is to provide a carrier blank so constituted that al1 cutting, scoring and printing operations are performed on one side only of the blank.

I These and other objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to/be expressly understood, however, that the .drawing is utilized for purposes of illustration only, and is not to be `taken as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference vbeing had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In vthe drawing, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views; j

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the carrier is formed;

` Fig. 2. isa partial sectional view looking downwardly on the finished carrier, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled v carrier.

y Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a blank 4 of substantially rectangular shape is cut from a sheet of paper board or other suitable material. and is provided with a plurality of scored lines and die cut lines defining various relatively foldable panels, as more fully described hereinaafter. Horizontal score lines E and 6, vertical score lines 1 and 8, and portions of die cut lines 9 define a pair of identical adjacent main carrier side wall panels I0, while a pair of handle openings II and handle opening flaps I2 symmetrically disposed on the two side wall panels are defined by die cut lines,l3 and score lines I4. A pair of identical oppositely disposed handle reinforcing panels I5 are defined by score lines 8, die cut lines 9, and horizontally disposed die cut lines I6 which intersect the lines 9, the reinforcing panels being divided into identical upper and lower panels -v|1 and I8 by the partial die cut score lines IBa.

Four identical end wall panels I9 at the .sides of the main side wall panels are defined by cut lines 9 and I8 and score lines 1, the outer portions of the end wall panels having glue flaps 20 defined by vertical score lines 2|. Vertical score lines 22 are also provided on the end wall panels for reasons to be more fully described hereinafter.

Apair of identical bottom panels 23 are provided at the outer ends of the panels I 0. these Vbeing foldable about score lines 5 and being bi- .i 'sected b yrhorizontal score lines 24. Rectangular outer side wall panels 2l are formed at the outer ends of bottom panels 23, and are defined by horizontal score lines 26 and vertical score lines 21,-the outer edges 23 being preferably parallel with score lines 2i. Four end wall panels 2| are provided at the sides of panels 2l, and adhesive receiving panels 3l are provided adJacent the sides of panels 23 and foldable with respect thereto about vertical score lines 3l.

. Since the carrier is intended to receive a' plurality of bottles or other articles of a fragile nature, it is desirable to provide partitions or sep-- arators between the bottles. In the present invention, these partitions are provided for by partially cutting cooperating and oppositely disposed partition forming members out of the main and outer side wall panels, thus resulting in a simplied construction which eliminates the n'eed for using additional paper board or other material to form the partitions. To this end, partition forming members 32 are defined in the main side wall panels I by spaced die cut lines 33 and 34 and a die cut line 35 connecting the outer ends of lines 33 and 34. The inner ends of the lines 33 and 34 are preferably connected by a score line 36, and partition forming members are thus defined which may be folded outward with respect to the plane of the wall panels about score lines 36. In like manner die cut lines 31 and 38 and die out lines 39 connecting the outer ends thereof define similar partition forming members 40 in the outer side wall panels 25, the latter members being foldable outward from the plane of the panels about score lines 4l extending between the inner ends of cut lines 31 and 38. Additional score lines 42 extending between the lines 31 and- 38, and preferably parallel to the corresponding score lines 4|, define adhesive receiving portions 43 which are foldable with respect to the corresponding remaining portions of the members about the score lines 42. The out lines 33, 34, 35, and 31, 38, 39, and the score lines 36 and 4i, are so positioned on the panels I0 and 25, that when the panels 25 and the attached outer portions of bottom panels 23 are folded bodily 180 degrees about score lines 24 to bring the upper surfaces of panels 25 substantially in engagement with the corresponding upper surfaces of panels l0, the outer ends of members32 will engage the outer ends of the corresponding members 40, and the score lines 35 and 4| will be parallel to each other.

As heretofore stated, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a blank for a bottle carrier, so constituted that the various cooperating portions of the blank may be folded and adhesively or otherwise secured together while moving continuously through a single folding or gluing and folding machine of conventional type. it being pointed out in this connection that machines are now in common use which may be adapted by relatively simple adjustments to fold and glue a number of different foldable portions of a carrier or similar blank. As more fully explained hereinafter, the gluing operation above referred to is further facilitated by the fact that the blank is so arranged that it is only necessary to apply adhesive toone side of the blank.

Although the various portions of the carrier may be stapled or otherwise mechanically secured together without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is contemplated that these portions may be most economically adhesively secured to- `4 plished as follows in a conventional gluing machine.

Referrlng again to Fig. 1, the blank may be conveyed through the gluing machine with the right edge of the blank as the leading edge. A suitable adhesive is applied by the machine to the shaded area 44 in the central portion of the blank, the next operation being to fold over the two reinforcing panels l5 with their upper surfaces in engagement with the adhesively coated area 44. Thereafter, glue flaps 2D are folded over with their upper surfaces substantially in engagement with the upper surfaces of end wall panels I3. and adhesive is applied by the machine to shaded areas 45 on panels 30 and shaded areas 46 on portions 43 of partition forming members 43. Completion ofv the assembly is effected by bodily folding panels 25 and the outer halves of panels 23 upwardly 180 degrees about score lines 24, thus bringing adhesively coated areas 45 into engagement with what were originally the under surfaces of glue aps 20 as viewed in Fig. 1, and bringing adhesively coated areas 46 in to engagement with the end portions of the corresponding partition forming members 32. During the passage of the blank through the gluing machine, pressure is applied to eiect positive engagement of the adhesively coated areas with the cooperating surfaces, and the blank is delivered by the machine folded as above described, and with the adhesively coated areas and cooperating surfaces securely bonded together. The assembled carrier may then be shipped fiat in this form, or the upper and lower main side wall panels may be folded 180 degrees about the score line 6 to bring the under surfaces thereof together, whereupon the carrier may be packed in suitable cartons and shipped in this condition to the bottling plant. In the event the latter procedure is followed, the folding operation is facilitated by the partially die cut score lines Illa, which are in alignment with score line 6. To further facilitate the above folding operation, the

portions between the die out lines I8a may be partially cut through the paper from the under side, as indicated by dotted lines 41, thus allowing the paper at the under side, which is on the upper or outer side after the blank has passed through the gluing machine. to open up or separate when the main wall panels are folded together.

Lines 48 define openings in the outer edges of panels I1 and I8 which are positioned and gether, and it has been found that the operations shaped to register with the handle openings ii when the carrier is assembled as above described, and in order to provide the maximum amount of reinforcement for the main side wall panels I3 and the handle portions thereof, the blank is preferably so dimensioned that the maximum width of the reinforcing panels is substantially equal to half the width of the main side wall panels, whereby the outer edges of the opposite reinforcing panels substantially abut each other after the folding and gluing operations are completed. As a result of this construction, the entire upper portion of each main side panel is composed of two thicknesses of material adhesively secured together over substantially the entire area of the reinforcing panels. Also the surfaces of the reinforcing panels make a convenient location for advertising matter, which may befprintedon the under sides of the reinforcing panels of the blank before the latter is put-through the gluing machine.

Assuming now that the main side wall panels have been folded together about score line 6 as above described, th carrier may be opened to receive bottles or other articles, by holding the carrier with the handle portions upward and with the center folds of the bottom panels 23 resting on a fiat surface such as a table, and thereafter pushing downwardly on the carrier, whereupon the bottom panels will unfold about the centrally positioned score lines 24 to a relatively at position. and at the same time the outer side wall panels will move outward with respect to the adjacent main side wall panels, which operation the operator may facilitate if necessary by initiating outward movement of the outer side Wall panels. As these panels move outward, the the glue flaps will hinge along score lines 2l, and the adhesively coated panels 30 will hinge along score lines 3 l. At the same time, the score lines 22 on the end wall panels permit the latter to bend about these lines, and the carrier end walls thus formed tend to bend in such a manner as to readily conform to the contour of the bottles placed in the carrier. During the opening operation, the partition forming members hinge about score lines 36 and 4l respectively, and the portions 43 of members 40 hinge about score lines 42, resulting in the formation of interconnecting wall panel supporting partitions between the main and outer side wall panels as shown in Fig. 2, with three thicknesses of the carrier forming material separating at least a portion of each compartment thus formed from the adjacent compartment. In order to improve the appearance of the carrier, the ends of the bottom panels are preferably given an arcuate shape as shown,

thus substantially conforming to the shape of the end walls when the latter are positioned as shown in Fig. 2.

Although the score unes 3s and 4| may b arranged parallel to score line 21 if desired, loading A of the carrier and proper positioning of the bottom in the carrier compartments may be facilitated by disposing these score lines at an angle to the vertical center line of the blank as shown in Fig. 1, the angles formed by lines 36 and 4| with respect to the center line being equal and oppositely disposed. In loading carriers of this type, it is customary to first insert bottles in the center compartments, and to thereafter insert them in the end compartments. There is no difficulty in loading the center compartments, as the partition members are not fully extended from the side walls when this operation takes place. As the center bottles are inserted, the side walls are forced further apart, and the partition members extend outward more nearly at right angles to the planes of the adjacent side walls. Due to the angular positioning of the score lines 36 and 4I, the top edges of the members 32, which are preferably wider than the members 40, engage the walls of the bottles. The partition members thus form flared openings for the easy insertion of bottles inthe end pockets, and the angles formed by the score lines 36 and 4| and the widths of the members 32 are so chosen that the lower edges of members 32 engage the walls of the bottles inserted in the end pockets. Relative movement of the center and end bottles thus tends to twist the partition forming members, and a cushioning action is thus provided between the end and center bottles which tends to minimize breakage.

A further feature which may be incorporated for the purpose of minimizing tearing of the paper adjacent the ends of some of the score lines includes apertures 50 and 5I punched at the ends of score lines 8 and I4 respectively. and apertures 52 punched at the ends of score lines 36.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 3,' a lrelal tively strong single piece carrier of pleasing ap- .particularity, it will be understood that the iny vention is not limited thereto, but may be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference will, therefore, be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A single piece container of sheet material having article receiving compartments, said container comprising a blank of said material cut, scored and folded to provide a pair of side wall panels and a bottom panel connecting said side wall panels and formed integral therewith, one of said side wall panels having an upwardly extending handle portion provided with an opening therein for carrying the container, connected panels joining the ends of said side wall panels to form container end Walls and formed as integral parts of said'blank, and a partition extending between and connecting said side wall panels to form a compartment wall spaced from said end walls, said partition comprising substantially three sided tongues formed integrally with each side wall extending therefrom and having their free ends connected, one of said free ends being folded over and the free end of the other tongue extending substantially in the plane of the remaining portion of said other tongue, whereby a portion of the length of said partition is formed of three layers of said material and provides a cushioning member between said compartments.

2. A single piece collapsible container of sheet material having article receiving compartments, said container comprising a blank of said material cut, scored and folded to provide a pair of folded together side wall panels integrally connected by a fold along their upper ends, bottom panels folded outwardly in opposite directions from the bottom ends of said side wall panels, each bottom panel being foldable along a median line parallel with said side wall panels, other side wall panels extending upwardly from the outer edges of said bottom panels substantially parallel with the rst named side wall panels, integral panels respectively connecting the ends of the rst named side wall panels with theends of said other side wall panels to form end walls for the container, said end walls being foldable along lines lying in planes through said median lines and parallel with said first named wall panels, and spaced foldable partitions extending between the first named side wall panels and said other side Wall panels, each of said partitions comprising a partition forming member formed by substantially three sided cuts in the first named side wall panels and extending outwardly toward the adjacent other side wall panel and having the free end thereof connected with the free end of a corresponding similar inwardly extending partition forming member formed in said other side wall panels, said connected free end of one of said partition forming members forming a substantially rigid extension thereof and the connected -free end of the other partition forming member Asides thereof and folded over said side ,wall

panels about said .upper ends thereof and secured to the outside of said side wall panels, a second side wall panel at each end of said blank connected with each of the first named side wall panels by a bottom panel foldable alongmedian lines parallel with the Junction of the bottom panels and side walls, connected end aps integral with the side edges of said side wall panels forming connecting end walls betweenthe side edges of said rst and second side wall panels and foldable along vertical median lines, and foldable spaced compartment forming partitions connecting said first and second named side wail panels comprising corresponding foldable tongues formed in said rst and second named side walls by substantially three sided cuts therein, and connections between the ends of said corresponding tongues comprising an end portion on one of said tongues foldable substantially along a line lying in a plane passing through said median lines and connected to a substantially rigid end portion of the corresponding tongue, said bottom panels and end walls being operable when unfolded to separate said rst and second named side wall panels and to extend said partitions therebetween in compartment forming relation with said side wall panels and end walls. the connected ends of said partitions when the latter are extended forming multiple layer article separating partition portions between said compartments.

4. A bottle carrier comprising a single piece of paper board, having a pair of adjacent integrally connected substantially identical main side wall panels folded 180 degrees about the junction line therebetween with their back surfaces substantially in engagement, said panels being provided with registering handle openings adjacent said junction line, a pair of reinforcing panels integrally connected to the side edges of said main side wall panels and folded 180 degrees about the said side edges of said wall panels and folded 180 degrees about extensions of said junction line, said reinforcing panels being secured to said main wall panels and provided with handle openings adapted to register with the first named handle openings, bottom panels adjacent the lower end of each main side wall panel folded outwardly substantially 90 degrees to said main panels, outer side wall panels adjacent to the outer edges of said bottom panels folded upwardly substantially 90 degrees with respect to said bottom panels, connected end wall panels attached to the side edges of said main and outer side wall panels and integral therewith, forming end walls, a pair of spaced partition forming members partially cut from each main side wall panel and folded outwardly therefrom, and a pair of similarly spaced partition forming members partially out from said outer side wall panels folded inwardly toward the main side wall panels and having portions of their free ends overlapping and secured to portions of the free ends of the 8 corresponding partition forming members of the said main side wall panels to form connecting partitions with multiple layer bottle separating portions between the main side wall panels and the outer side wall panels.

5. A multiple compartment bottle carrier comprising a. single piece of paper board having a pair of adjacent substantially identical main side wall panels folded 180 degrees about the junction line therebetween with their back surfaces substantially in engagement, said panels being provided with registering handle openings adjacent said junction line, a pair of reinforcing panels integrally connected to the side edges of said main side wall panels and folded 180 degrees about the said side edges of said wall panels and folded 180 degrees about the extension of said junction line, said reinforcing panels being secured to said main wall panels and provided with handle openings adapted to register with the first named handle openings, bottom panels adjacent the lower edges of said main Wall panels folded outwardly substantially degrees to said main wall panels, outer side wall panels adjacent the outer edges of said bottom panels folded upwardly substantially 90 degrees with respect to said bottom panels, integral end wall panels connecting the side edges of said main and outer side wall panels to form end walls, a pair of spaced partition forming members partially cut from each main side wall panel and folded outwardly therefrom along lines forming substantially equal and oppositely disposed angles with respect to the vertical center lines of said main wall panels, and a pair of similarly spaced partition forming members partially cut from said outer side wall panels folded inwardly toward said main wall panels about lines substantially parallel to the fold lines of the corresponding members of the first named pair of partition forming members, the free ends of the corresponding members of each pair being joined in overlapping relationship to form spaced connecting compartment forming partitions between said main and outer side wall panels having multiple layer bottle separating portions, said partitions.

being generally inclined with respect to each other to facilitate the insertion of bottles -in said compartments.

6. In a single piece multiple compartment bottle carrier, compartment forming means including side wall panels, a bottom panel interposed therebetween and foldable relative thereto, means for securing the sides of the side walls together to form end wall panels, and cooperating partition forming members integral with each side wall panel foldable outwardly therefrom along parallel lines angularly disposed with respect to the vertical center lines of the side wall panels and having folded over ends of the cooperating members secured to unfolded ends of the correspending cooperating members for forming connecting partitions for said side walls whereby said free ends are arranged in overlapping relationship to form multiple layer bottle separating portions and said side wall connecting partitions are arranged in substantially converging planes to facilitate the insertion of bottles in said compartments. f

7. The method of fabricating a single piece multiple compartment bottle carrier from a nat blank of paper board or. the like having a plurality of relatively foldable panels including 'cooperating main side wall and main side wall rein,

forcing panels, outer side wall panels, bottom panels foldable along a median line thereof and connecting said main and outer side wall panels, cooperating partition forming members severed along three sides from said main side wall panels and from said outer side Wall panels, and cooperating end wall panels adjacent the sides of the main and outer side wall panels, some of said end panels having foldable end portions, which comprises applying a coating of adhesive to selected areas on one surface of the blank, folding said reinforcing panels over substantially 180 toward said one surface and against said main side Wall panels, with said adhesive coating therebetween, folding the foldable end portions of the cooperating end wall panels adjacent the sides of the main and outer side wall panels over substantially 180 toward said one surface, folding said bottom panels substantially 180 about said median lines and toward said one surface to effect substantial engagement between the outer surfaces of said folded over end wall panel portions and the corresponding unfolded end wall panels with said adhesive coating therebetween and to effect substantial engagement between free end portions of the severed partition forming members of said outer side wall panels with the free end portions of the corresponding partition forming members of said side wall panels with said adhesive coating therebetween, and subjecting said engaged portions of said assembly to suiiicient pressure to insure an adhesive bond therebetween.

8. lThe method of fabricating a multiple compartment bottle carrier from a at blank of paper board or the like having a plurality of relatively foldable panels including cooperating main side wall and main side wall reinforcing panels, outer side wall panels, bottom panels foldable along a median line and connecting said main and outer side wall panels, cooperating partition forming members severed along three sides from said main side Wall panels and from said outer side wall panels, and cooperating end wall panels adjacent the sides of the main and outer side wall panels, some of said end wall panels having foldable end portions, which comprises folding said reinforcing panels toward one surface of the blank to effect engagement with said main Wall panel, folding said foldable end portions of said end wall panels adjacent the sides of said main and outer side wall panels toward said one surface of the blank substantially folding said bottom panels substantially 180 about said median lines toward said one surface to effect engagement between the outer surfaces of the folded end wall panel portions and the corresponding unfolded end wall panels and between the free ends of the partition forming members of the main side wall panels and the corresponding partition forming members of the outer side wall panels, and securing said engaged parts together.

ROGER H. CASLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bergstein Nov. 19, 1946 

